NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Airborne Research Experience for Educators, or AREE, activity stimulates interest in NASA's earth science and flight research and, with the help of educators, supports recruitment of the agency's future engineers and scientists.

The goal is to anchor educators in a community of scientific practice to observe what it means to be a scientist and an engineer and to increase their understanding of science and mathematics. Experiences are translated into classroom practice through the implementation of thematic curriculum modules based on a select aircraft, instrument, and research investigation.

The AREE activity combines unique research-based opportunities with high-quality NASA content-based curricula and student-focused design challenges. Experiences for educators are based on an aircraft, a data collection instrument and a research investigation. The following diagram portrays the relationship between educator outcomes and student learning goals.


Educator Research Experience

The objectives of an airborne science mission are to collect in-situ or remote sensor data of air, land and/or sea to study the Earth system. Educators participate in unique research-based experiences that may include airborne and ground data collection, reduction and analysis. The depth of the experience is dependent on the activity duration and flight mission. The goal is to engage educators in authentic research-based environments where data is collected from science instruments integrated into aircraft test racks. When possible, educators are introduced to airborne data collection methods via direct observation of instrument investigators operating instruments on board the aircraft.

Advance Scientific Knowledge

To increase their core scientific knowledge, educators attend lectures from subject matter experts relevant to aircraft and research investigations. Lecturers may come from university faculty or research institutions. They also may be NASA scientists and engineers. Instructional content may include subject matter in natural events (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes), climate, remote sensing, atmospheric chemistry and other relevant subjects.

Use High-quality NASA STEM Resources

Educators attend pedagogic workshops that focus on problem-based learning, engineering design, inquiry-based instruction, and integration of technology and data-focused curricula into the classroom. Participant observations and experiences from the activity are translated into classroom practice through the use of NASA content-based STEM resources and student-focused design challenges. The objectives of the curricula are to increase students’ content understanding in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, and interest in STEM careers.